Ladder construction



2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. SIDNEY A. M G/5W M Jaw HA5 ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1932. s. A. MGGAW LADDER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 50, 1951 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 PATENT orricr.

SIDNEY A. McGAW, or FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA LADDER 'consriaucrion- Application filed. March 30, 1931. Serial No. 526,180.

My invention relates to ladder construction.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a fitting for a ladder which prevents splitting of the head board.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved ladder construction including means for securely binding the head board to the side rails.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a fitting by means of which assembly of the ladder is greatly facilitated. 7

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a fitting for mounting the heard board without the use of rivets, or such securing means as would project above the surface thereof.

My invention possesses otherobjects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I- may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a ladder incorporating the fitting of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front view in elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of my invention as applied to the upper portion of a ladder.

form of my invention showing the underside p of the head board. Portions are omitted to shorten the View and portions are broker Figure 4 is a'frontview in elevation of the same, taken in the direction of the arrow l of Figure 3, and I Figure 5 1s a sectional view of the modified away to disclose the construction more clearly. The plane of section isindicated byv the line5-5 of Figure 4.

Broadly stated the fitting of my invention comprises a plate'adapted to be secured to the side rail of a ladder and having a socket arranged thereon to cap an end of the head board.

the head boardis, undoubtedly, the individual piece which receives the brunt of hard usage. It is usually the only part projecting beyond the side rails, and should the ladder H be accidentally upset, receives the full impact of the blow, it being the first part to strike the ground.

Inspection of various head boards will invariably reveal numerous cracks and other defects occasioned by such accidents, and, i

if the safety of the-user is to be considered,

the headboard should not be maintained in this state. As a matter of fact, however, this 'conditionis usually overlooked until the ladder becomes unstable due to the loss of the bracing effect provided by the head board, or until the user in injured due to the ladder collapsing. v

The'fitting of my invention is intended to the main body has subdivided. The board need not be changed until it has worn so as to be no longer serviceable.

In greater detail,and referring particular ly to Figures 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment ofmy invention comprises a plate 2 positioned on the outer face of a ladder side rail 3. An anchor plate 4:, having the inturned flanges 6 adapted to engage the front and back faces 7 of the side rail, is preferably rovided and is positioned on the inner face of the rail 3 adjacent the plate 2. Suitable securing .means, such as the rivets 8,passing through the side rail, serve to secure. the plates together. A rivet 9 is preferably provided to bind the upper end of the side rail to the plate 2.

A socket 11, formed along one edge of the late2, serves'tocap one end of theladder head board 12. The socket is preferably formed by offsetting a portion of the plate 2 to provide a wall 13, flanges 14: being formed integrally therewith and at right angles thereto. The socket thus formed is adapted to lie wholly to one side of the plate. Bosses 16, formed across the juncture of the plate 2 and its socket or ofiset portion, provide ribs to materially stiffen this point.

It will be seen from the foregoing, and upon inspection of the drawings, that the socket and plate are formed from a single piece of metal; the socket portion being bounded by the flange 14, continuous at the corners, so that literally the ends of the head board are boxed in. By so boxing in or capping the ends of the head board in this manner splitting thereof is effectively prevented.

A further advantage of this construction lies in the fact that the head board is assembled without the use of nails, rivets or other such securing means. This results in a head board having a flat, unobstructed top surface except at its ends where the flange provided by the socket 11 afiords effective means whereby pails, tools or other objects are prevented from bein accidently brushed off the head board.

A tie rod 17' is positioned in alined holes drilled in the plate 2 and the side rail 3, and is provided with a securing nut 18. The rod extends across and engages the opposite side rail of the ladder, which is not shown in the drawings; the method of connection, however, being preferably identical with that just described. A mortise 19, is provided in the head board in which the extended portion 21, of the side rail is adapted to seat. Tightening of the tie rod nut 18, serves to draw the side rail against the shoulder 22 of the mortise, at the same time forcing the head board to seat in the socket 11.

This construction provides extreme rigidity between the side rail and the head board at the junction thereof, and provides means for locking the end of the head board in the socket. As a further means of bracing the head board and adding to its rigidity, a link 23 is preferably provided and is secured to the plate 2 and the side rail 3 by suitable means, such as the rivets 24.

A modified form of my invention is illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5. In this construction the plate 2 has portions partially sheared therefrom to form tongues 26. These tongues are positioned to lie at right angles to the plate to form a continuation of the socket flange 14-, and to underlie the head board 12. To permit clearance for the tongues 26 the upper end of the side rail is provided with a notch 27. The bolts 28 passing thru the head board and the tongues adjacent the ends thereof, serve to secure the head board and the tongues together. Recesses 29 are provided to seat the heads of the bolts, so as to preserve the unobstructed top surface ofthe head board.

Due to the weakening of the plate 2, caused by the removal of the metal to form the tongues 26, reinforcing means are provided to stiffen the plate and the junction of the plate and the socket. Portions of the material of the plate and the socket wall 13, are embossed therefrom to form ribs 31 which overlie the junction of the socket and the plate. Two of these ribs extend downwardly a substantial distance across the face of the plate and add materially to the rigidity of the connection between the head board and the side rails.

By this method of mounting the tie rod is dispensed with, the end of the head board being secured in the socket by means of the tongues 26 and bolts 28. This effectively prevents spreading of the side rails. From the foregoing description of my invention it can readily be seen that the maintenance cost of a ladder is materially reduced, while at the same time a construction is provided affording the maximum of safety, simplicity, ruggedness, ease of assembly and low cost.

I claim 1. A device for preventing the splitting of v the head board in a ladder having side rails,

comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail, and a cap arranged on the plate for enclosin an end of the head board, said cap having a substantially horizontal flange portion upon which the bottom surface of the head board may rest.

2. A device for preventing the splitting of the head board in a ladder having side rails,

comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail and having formed therein at its upper edge a socket for capping an end of the head board, said plate having a substantially horizontal flange portion upon which the bottom surface of the head board may rest. I

' 3. A device for preventing the splitting of the head board in a ladder having side rails, comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail and provided with an offsetportion having flanged edges to provide a socket adapted to cap an end of the head board, and bosses formed across the juncture of the plate and the offset portion thereof to provide ribs for stiffening the socket and plate.

4. In a ladder having side rails and a head boarc, a plate adapted to be secured to the outer face of eachof the side rails, each plate being provided with a socket adapted to cap end of the head board and a tie rod connect-ing said plates. h

5. In ladder having side rails and a head board, a plate adapted to be secured to the outer face of eachof the siderails, eachplate provided with a socket adapted to cap an end of t 1e head board, a tie rod connecting said plates, an anchor plate positioned on the inner face of each of the side rails and provided with flanges engaging the edges thereof, and rivets passing through the side rails and securing the plates together thereon.

6. A device for preventing the splitting of the heard board in a ladder having side rails, comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail and provided with a main portion and an offset portion having continuous flanged edges to provide a socket adapted to cap an end of the head board, said socket lying substantially to one side of the main portion of the plate.

7 In a ladder having side rails, a head board provided With a recess in which an end of a side rail may seat, and a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail, said plate having a socket arranged to cap an end of the head board. v

8. A device for preventing the splitting of the head board in aladder having side rails, comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail, said plate having a socket arranged to cap an end of the head board and a tongue extending from the plate and secured to the head board.

9. A device for preventing the splitting of the head board in a ladder having side rails, comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail and provided With an offset portion having flanges to provide a socket adapted to cap an end of the head board, one of said flanges having a portion extending beyond the base of the socket and secured to the head board.

10. A device for preventing the splitting of the head board in :a ladder having side rails, comprising a plate adapted to be securedto a side rail and provided With an olfset portion having flanges to provide a socket adapted to cap an end of the head board, and

a tongue formed on the plate and secured to the head board.

11. A device for preventing the splitting of the head board in a ladder having side rails, comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail; and a cap connected with said plate for enclosing an end of the head board and comprising a Wall portion abutting the end surface of the head board, and flange portions overlapping the top, bottom and side surfaces of said head board.

12. A device for preventing the splitting of the head board in a ladder having side rails, comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a side rail: and a can connected with said plate for enclosing an end of the head board and comprising a substantially vertical Wall portion abutting the end surface of the head board, substantially horizontal flange portions overlapping the top and bottom surfaces of the head board, and substantially vertical flanges overlapping the side surfaces of said head board.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

SIDNEY A. MOGAW. 

